Holy smokes, the EFF has posted what
amounts to an open cease-and-desist letter that acknowledges Sony's decision to cease production of CDs infected with
malicious XCP copoy-protection, while seeming to demand various reparations. The EFF has no particular authority to
make demands, as far as I know, but the veiled threat and startling deadline for action (this Friday morning) are
unmistakably hostile. Prelude to a class-action lawsuit? I have no idea. The EFF itemizes eight actions Sony should
take, including recalling infected CDs, recanting public statements, and bundle certified statements of harmlessness in
future CD releases. I expect Sony to sneer at this high-handedness, regardless of deserving it.
"You must be aware that the discovery of this software has shocked and angered your customers. Software that
deceives the owner of the computer it runs upon and opens that computer up to attacks by third parties may be expected
to come from malicious cyber-attacks; it is certainly not expected nor acceptable to be distributed and sold to paying
customers by a major music company."
Unacceptable? Yes. Unexpected? Well . . .
[via rebblescum]
